Carton



May 25, 1965 R. A. DE FEO 3,135,552

CARTON Filed Feb. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, @C'A/AED A. 05/50 mm. \b-Tumcs ATTORNEY y 25, 1965 -R. A. DE FEO 3,185,662

CARTON Filed Feb. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A IIIIIM 1 INVENTOR, 160/4?!) 4. 05/20 KARL ML houis A'TIJORNEY United States Patent 3,185,652 CARTON Richard A. De Feo, Ardmore, Pa, assiguor to Diamond International Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 260,242 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-4531) This invention relates generally to cartons produced from paperboard or the like, and more particularly to a novel display carton in which the goods packed therein may be readily viewed without removing the lid. The display carton or box of the invention is particularly adapted for packaging tablecloths or the like; however, other uses will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Cartons of the general character involved should lend themselves to being readily stored in a fiat condition in order to occupy a minimum of storage space, be readily assembled, adequately display the goods stored therein without disturbing the same, and maintain the contents in a salable condition so that a minimum of damage or soiling will occur to such goods.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved carton for packaging and displaying goods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel carton which includes a slide panel for controlling novel-one-piece blanks from which a box lid and bottom tray are produced with a minimum of gluing.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel box lid and bottom tray in which means are provided for readily erecting the same from an essentially fiat folded condition.

Other and more specific objects and the nature and advantages of the present instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lid of the display carton of the invention, a portion being broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the easclforming slide panel which will be slidably and removably supported on the carton lid;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of one of the inner corners of the carton lid, showing it in a partially erected condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one corner of the erected'carton lid;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the blank from which the carton lid is produced;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one way of using the easel-forming slide of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom tray of the novel container;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one partially erected corner of the bottom tray;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the plane of line 92 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary topjplan view of one corner of the erected bottom tray; and

FIG. 11 is a plan View, on a reduced scale, of the blank from which the bottom tray of the carton is produced.

Patented May 25, 1265 ice rectangular central panel 18 preferably having a rectangular viewing aperture 20 formed intermediately thereof. The rectangular central panel 18 is bordered at fold lines 22 and 24, at opposite sides thereof, by a plurality of elongated panel elements 26, 28 and 30, and 26, 28' and 30' respectively, which are foldably connected to each other on fold lines 32 and 34, and 32' and 34', respectively. The panel elements 26-30 and 2630' will be conveniently described as first, second and third side panel elements of the lid member.

The rectangular central panel 18 is bordered at fold lines 35 and 38 at opposite ends thereof, by a plurality of end wall panel elements 40, 42 and 44 and 40', 42' and 44 respectively. The panel elements 40, 42 and 44- and 4t), 42 and 44, are foldably connected to each other on fold lines 46 and 48, and 46' and 4S, respectively. The panel elements 4044 and 40-44' will be conveniently described as first, second and third end wall panel elements.

The adjacent ends of the first panel elements 26 of one side wall are foldably connected to the adjacent ends of the first end wall panel elements 40' by rectangular gusset panel elements 5%) and 52 which include a diagonal fold line 54 and 56, respectively, therethrough. Likewise, the first panel element 26 of the other side wall is foldably connected to the adjacent ends of the first end wall panel elements 40, 40 by a similar diagonally foldable gusset panel element and 52. Formed at opposite ends of the end wall panel elements 42, 44 and 42', 44' are lip portions 58, 60, 62 and 64 which project slightly beyond the fold lines 22 and 24.

The second panel elements 28, 28' of the respective side walls have extending longitudinally from the terminal ends thereof lock tabs 66, 68 and 66', 68', respectively. The third panel elements 36 30' of the side Walls include L-shaped notches formed therein as indicated at 70, 72 and 70, 72', these L-shaped notches extending slightly into the outer edges of the second panel elements 28 and 28', respectively.

The lid member 10 is assembled for erection as follows:

A suitable layer of adhesive 74 is applied to the inner surface of the side panel elements 26, 26' and the second side panel elements 28, 28 are secured to juxtaposed relation thereon after folding these panel elements at the fold lines 32, 32'. The third panel elements 30, 39 will be folded on the fold lines 34, 34' at right angles with respect to the panel elements 28, 23' and will be thus disposed in unsecured or free relationship beneath the inner'surface of thecentral panel 18 as clearly seen in FiGS. 3 and 4. These third panel elements 30, 30' will form supporting guide tracks for supporting the ease1-forming slide member 12 thereon.

When the lid member 10 is assembled in the manner just described, the thus assembled lid member may be stored in substantially fiat or planar relationship, i.e. the juxtaposed and secured panel elements 26, 28 and 26, 28' being folded outwardly or into a flat condition substantially coplanar with the central panel 18.

In order to erect the lid member, the juxtaposed and secured side wall panel elements 26, 2S and 26 and 28' will be folded at right angles with respect to the central panel 18 (see FIG. 3). It will be noted that the gusset panels 59-52 and 5d, 52 will fold inwardly when the first end wall panel elementslti, 40' are folded upwardly at right angles Withrespect to the central panel 18. Ad-

ditionally, the lock tabs 66 will also extend inwardly i when this manipulation takes place.

Thereafter, the second end panel elements 42' will be folded onto the inner surface of the respective first end panel elements 44 40' and the third end panel clements 44, 44' will be disposed at a right angle with respect to the second end panel elements 42, 42'. The inner surface of the third end panel elements 44, 44' will be disposed in juxtaposed relation on the inner surface of the central panel 18, and the lip portions 58, 6t), 62 and 6 will be received in the L-shaped notches formed in the side wall panels 28 and 30 (see FIG. 3).

It will be noted that the notched out portions of the third panel elements, which form the track for the member 12, will permit third end panel elements 44 to be disposed in the plane of the track elements 30 (see FIG. 4).

Thus the lid member may be erected with a minimum of gluing, and provides opposed support tracks .30, which will conveniently support the easel-forming panel member 12 in a manner to subsequently be described.

The member 12 comprises a pair of substantially planar elements 76 and 78 which are foldably connected on a suitablefold line 80, and the outer surfaces of the panel elements 76 and '78 may have suitable advertising indicia, colored display photographs, etc. applied thereon. This display indicia may be conveniently comprised of a photograph of the tablecloth which is boxed in the container, showing the same on a table which has been laid with china and silverware, etc. and thus substantially eliminates the necessity for a would-be purchaser to unfold the cloth and thus disturb the condition in which it had been packed.

The panel 76 includes a tab portion 82 substantially the same width as the width of the viewing aperture 20.

The member 12 will normally have the panel 76 and 78 in juxtaposed relation, and the opposite edges 84 and 86 thereof will be received beneath the inwardly extending track forming side panel elements 36, 349'.

As seen in FIG. 1, the member 12 may be slid beneath the central panel 18 to permit viewing access to the contents beneath the lid member 10, or if preferred, the member 12 may be removed from the lid member and supported in an erected condition to form a display easel for advertising the product contained within the carton. In order to provide greater stability to the easel, although it will generally lend itself to being disposed in angular relation on the carton, the tab 82 may be folded inwardly and positioned beneath one edge of the viewing aperture '20 of the lid member as seen in FIG. 6.

The bottom tray member 14 is produced from a substantially rectangular, paperboard blank indicated generally at 88 (see FIG. 11). The blank 88 comprises a rectangular, planar central panel 96 bordered at its sides at fold lines 92 and 94 by five side-forming panel elements 96, 93, 100, 102 and 104 and 96, 98', 100', 162' and 104, respectively. The side panel elements 96494 and 96-104 are foldably connected to each other on fold lines 106, 108, 110, 112 and 106, 1%, 110' and 112, respectively. The side panel elements 964% and 96'- ltl t' are conveniently identified as first, second, third,

fourth and fifth side panel elements.

The central bottom panel 90 isbordered at its oppo site ends by fold lines 114 and 116 which have foldably connected thereto a plurality of end wall forming panel 7 elements 118, 126, 122 and 124, and 118', 120, 122' and 124-. The panel elements 118-124 are foldably connected to eachv other on fold lines 126, 128 and 130 and the panel elements 118 124 are foldably connected to each other on fold lines 126', 128 and 130.

The side wall panel elements 98 have projecting outwardly'therefrom at opposite ends thereof lock tabs 132 and 134 which respectively flank opposite ends of the adjacent side wall panel element 1%. .Likewise, the side wall panel elements 98 have projecting outwardly from opposite ends thereof in flanking relationship to opposite ends of the side wall panel elements 1% lock tabs 132 and 134'.

v The side wall panel element 96 is foldably connected at the terminal ends thereof to adjacent ends of the end Wall panel elements 118, 118' by gusset panel elements 136 and 138 which respectively include diagonal fold lines 14-13 and 142 extending from the corners of the central panel 90. Likewise, the side wall panel element 96 is foldably connected at its terminal ends to the adjacent ends of the end wall panel elements 118, 118' by similar gusset panel elements 136 and 138'.

The second end wall panel elements and 120' include angular terminal margins 144 and 146 and 144 and respectively.

The third end wall panel elements 122 and 122' have extending longitudinally from the terminal ends thereof lock tabs 148, 151i and 148', 150, respectively.

The bottom tray member 14 is assembled as follows:

The fourth side wall panel elements 102 and 102' are adhesively secured at 154 (see FIG. 8) to the inner surface of the central bottom panel 90. When the panel elements 102, 102' are thus secured, the panels 164, 104' will be disposed in substantially juxtaposed relation with respect to the inner surface of the first side wall panel elements 96 and 96, respectively. This provides in the side walls a double thickness outer reinforcing side wall and permits a relatively light caliper of paperboard to be used for producing the blank 38. When the bottom tray 14 is so assembled, the side walls of the bottom tray may be folded into a relatively flat condition at opposite sides of the central panel 90 when the tray member is stored.

When it is desired to erect the bottom tray member 14, the side panel elements forming the side walls will be oriented to form rectangular tubular construction as seen in FIG. 8, and the panel elements 98, 98 will form the top of the side walls. The end wall panels are also folded into a rectangular tubular construction, it being noted that the gusset panel will fold inwardly against the inner surface of the panel elements 118, 118' (see FIG. 9). The lock tabs 132, 134 and 132', 134' will extend beneath the top of the end walls, i.e. panel elements 120, 120. The'lock tabs 150 will project into the side walls formed by the panel elements 96-104 and 96104' as clearly seen in FIG. 10.

When the bottom tray member 14 is assembled in the manner just described, the tubular side and end walls will resist a considerable compression force and form a highly desirable and satisfactory article receiving tray for the purpose of packaging linens, towels, etc.

There has been described and disclosed a novel carton including an improved bottom tray member and lid member in which the lid member incorporates an easel-forming panel member slidable supported therein for providing visual access to an aperture in the lid member.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A blank forming a top member for a display carton comprising a rectangular, planar central panel, end and side wall panel elements hingedly connected to the marginal edges of said central panel, gusset panels hingedly connected to adjacent ends of said end and side wall panel elements on fold lines coinciding with the margins'of said central panel, said gusset panels each including a diagonal fold line extending from the corner of said central panel through said gusset panels, said side and end wall panel elements each including a secondary inner wall panel element, said secondary inner wall panel elements of said end wall panel elements including an end flap extending along the length thereof, said secondary inner wall panel elements of said side wall panels including longitudinally extending, terminal lock tabs, and track-forming panel elements hingedly connected to the side margins of said side wall secondary inner wall panel elements, said secondary inner Wall panel elements including a notch portion flanking said track-forming panel elements for receiving the terminal ends of the said end flaps thereat when the lid member is erected.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said central panel includes a viewing aperture intermediately thereof.

3. A display box lid member produced from a onepiece blank element comprising a rectangular top panel and vertically positionable end and side walls, said end and side walls comprising a plurality of panel elements and being foldable into the general plane of said top panel, said side walls comprising three panel elements, the first and second being adhesively secured to each other and a third track-forming panel element disposed beneath and free from said top panel, said second panel element including an L-shaped notch at the terminal ends thereof, said end walls comprising three panel elements, the second and third being receivable at their terminal ends in said L-shaped notches, and diagonally foldable gusset panels hingedly connected to adjacent ends of said first panel elements of said end and side Walls, said second panel elements of said side walls including terminal lock tabs reinovably received beneath said first and second panel elements of said end Walls at the terminal ends thereof, said top panel including an intermediately disposed viewing aperture therethrough, and a display panel 6 slidably supported beneath the said third track-forming panel elements of said side walls and the inner surface of said top panel for alternate positioning thereof in closing relationship with respect to said viewing aperture.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the third panels of said end and side walls are disposed to coplanar relation in the erected lid member, said third panel elements of said side walls are terminally notched and said third panel elements of said end walls are received at their terminal ends in said terminal notches.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 949,904 2/ 10 King 206-452 1,758,512 5/30 Gross 229-34 1,912,952 6/33 Scruby 229-34 2,214,813 9/40 Guyer 229-34 2,334,425 11/43 Lowe y 229-34 2,593,333 4/52 Myers 206-4531 2,684,194 7/54 Frankenstein 229-34 2,687,839 8/54 Gray.

3,034,697 5/62 Frankenstein 229-31 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, GEORGE O. MLSTON, Examiners. 

1. A BLANK FORMING A TOP MEMBER FOR A DISPLAY CARTON COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR, PLANAR CENTRAL PANEL, END AND SIDE WALL PANEL ELEMENTS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE MARGINAL EDGES OF SAID CENTRAL PANEL, GUSSET PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID END AND SIDE WALL PANEL ELEMENTS ON FOLD LINES COINCIDING WITH THE MARGINS OF SAID CENTRAL PANEL, SAID GUSSET PANELS EACH INCLUDING A DIAGONAL FOLD LINE EXTENDING FROM THE CORNER OF SAID CENTRAL PANEL THROUGH SAID GUSSET PANELS, SAID SIDE AND END WALL PANEL ELEMENTS EACH INCLUDING A SECONDARY INNER WALL PANEL ELEMENT, SAID SECONDARY INNER WALL PANEL ELEMENTS OF SAID END WALL PANEL ELEMENTS INCLUDING AN END FLAP EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID SECONDARY INNER WALL PANEL ELEMENTS OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS INCLUDING LONGTUDINALLY EXTENDING, TERMINAL LOCK TABS, AND TRACK-FORMING PANEL ELEMENTS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDE MARGINS OF SAID SIDE WALL SECONDARY INNER WALL PANEL ELEMENTS, SAID SECONDARY INNER WALL PANEL ELEMENTS INCLUDING A NOTCH PORTION FLANKING SAID TRACK-FORMING PANEL ELEMENTS FOR RECEIVING THE TERMINAL ENDS OF THE SAID FLAPS THEREAT WHEN THE LID MEMBER IS ERECTED. 